The Birmingham fan who attacked Aston Villa skipper Jack Grealish has been sentenced to 14 weeks in jail and given a 10-year ban from all football stadiums.
27-year-old Paul Mitchell shocked the footballing community when he ran onto the pitch at St Andrews and took a swing at Grealish at the start of the second city derby on Sunday.
Mitchell pleaded guilty on the counts of assault and encroachment on to the pitch at Birmingham Magistrates' Court, and was swiftly sentenced.
Mitchell, of Rubery, Worcestershire, hit Grealish from behind after just ten minutes of the game - which was later settled by Grealish himself as he netted the winner.
The solicitor for Mitchell said he "cannot explain what came over him yesterday morning. His initial foolish intention was to just go on to the pitch and whip up the crowd."
Mitchell was also ordered to pay £350 in fines, including £100 to Grealish as compensation for the pain, discomfort and shock caused by the assault.
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Blues issue life bans
Birmingham reacted swiftly to say that they had banned Mitchell for life, along with another fan who posted abuse towards Grealish and his family immediately after the incident.
"Birmingham City FC welcomes the sentence handed down to Paul Mitchell," read a club statement.
"What he did was unacceptable and has no place in football.
"The Club can confirm that Mr Mitchell is banned from our home ground, the St. Andrew’s Trillion Trophy Stadium, for life. And nor will he have access to purchase tickets for away games involving Birmingham City Football Club, or have tickets purchased on his behalf.
"The Club has also banned another supporter for life for a series of vile and malicious Tweets on social media, relating to Jack Grealish and his family.
"The individual in question remains the subject of an ongoing investigation by West Midlands Police.
"Birmingham City FC rejects all forms of anti-social behaviour. We will not tolerate the kind of incidents we have seen during and since Sunday’s derby fixture against Aston Villa Football Club."
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